UAE tax penalties cut, 5 key changes businesses need to know
Dubai: The UAE has introduced sweeping changes to tax penalties, cutting fines and revising how violations are handled, with the Federal Tax Authority positioning the move as a step towards easing compliance and encouraging businesses to correct past errors. Sign up for our daily business newslette»»»
Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation: Regional developments have no impact on private sector jobs
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has affirmed the continued stability of the labour market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the uninterrupted continuity of business operations despite ongoing regional developments. This reflects the strength and diversity of»»»
Stocks rise as optimism over Mideast war takes hold
Wall Street stocks ended higher Thursday (April 17), adding to records as investors greeted optimistic comments from US President Donald Trump about negotiations with Iran while shrugging off a jump in crude prices. After veering between gains and losses much of the day, all three major US indices »»»
Amir, Sultan of Oman discuss regional developments
QNA Muscat The Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman discussed developments in the region amid rising regional tensions during a meeting at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat on Thursday. They exchanged views on current developments, particularly»»»
Al Khulaifi exchanges views on regional developments with German FM, officials
QNA Berlin Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi held a series of high-level talks in Berlin on Thursday to discuss recent regional developments. Dr. Al Khulaifi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Johann Wadephul. He also met sepa»»»
QU honours winners of the 19th Education Excellence Award 2026
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar University (QU) President, Dr. Omar Al-Ansari, honoured the winners of the 19th Education Excellence Award for 2026 in the presence of several vice presidents during a ceremony that reflects the university’s continued commitment to supporting excellence. The recognit»»»
Oil tanker traffic explodes at Panama canal as global energy routes shift amid Mideast war
A surge of oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers is crowding the Panama Canal, as shifting global energy routes driven by conflict in the Middle East push the strategic waterway to near-maximum capacity. Videos circulating online this week show long lines of vessels waiting to transi»»»
Development of Aqaba’s digital infrastructure accelerated to attract global technology investment — ASEZA
AMMAN — Commissioner for Investment and Economic Affairs at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Mohammed Abu Omar, said on Thursday that Aqaba is rapidly moving towards consolidating its position as a regional hub for the digital economy.Abu Omar said through the development of digit»»»
Agricultural exports hit a record high last year, says minister of agriculture
AMMAN — Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreissat on Thursday said Jordan’s agricultural sector continues to post strong performance, underpinned by improved supply chains and growing domestic production.Speaking to Al Mamlaka TV, Khreissat described the sector as a "success story" despite limited nat»»»
South Korea pet insurance market grows but uptake remains low - UPI.com
Pet insurance grows 3.5-fold in three years... insurance industry moves to boost awareness A chart shows the number of pet insurance policies in South Korea rising sharply from 51,727 in 2021 to 251,961 in 2025. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI April 15 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's pet »»»
Fine Arts Commission OKs Trump's arch project - UPI.com
1 of 4 | White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds an illustration on Wednesday of the proposed Triumphal Arch that President Donald Trump wants to build. Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to OK President Donald Trump's pla»»»
Tunisia-Romania: Call to scale up cooperation within Francophone space
Tunis, April 16 (TAP) - Members of the Tunisian section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonies (APF) held a working session on Thursday with Romanian president's personal representative for Francophonie affairs Ciprian Mihali, in the...»»»
State Minister at Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds talks with German officials
Berlin: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi held a series of high-level talks in Berlin on Thursday to discuss recent regional developments. HE Al Khulaifi met separately with senior German officials including HE Dr Guenter Sautter, Foreign »»»
Ben Ayed meets Romanian presidents personal representative for Francophonie affairs
Tunis, April 16 (TAP) - Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ben Ayed, met on Thursday in Tunis Ciprian Mihali, Romanian president's personal representative for Francophonie affairsDuring the...»»»
Libya, US Hold Talks on Money Laundering, Terror Financing
Anti-money laundering measures dominated talks in Washington between governor of the Central Bank of Libya Naji Issa and US officials, as prosecutors pursue corruption cases. The central bank said Issa outlined efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing systems, expa»»»
Cabinet Approves Reforms to Make Prosecutor General Investigation Mechanism Workable
The government has adopted a package of legislative amendments aimed at establishing an effective and functional mechanism for investigating the prosecutor general, the Council of Ministers reported on Thursday. The package introduces mandatory judicial review of decisions to terminate or suspend c»»»
Tunisia reaffirms commitment to sovereignty, UN Charter and peaceful dispute settlement
Tunis, April 16 (TAP) - Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations Nabil Ammar reaffirmed Tunisia's total solidarity with its brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar,...»»»
Cabinet Approves Agreement on Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity within UN Law of the Sea Convention
The caretaker Government Thursday approved an Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement), signed by the Republic of Bulgaria on September 20, 2023. The Government proposes that the Nat»»»
US Blockade of Iranian Waters Infringes Upon Iran's Sovereignty - Iranian Envoy to UN
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The ongoing blockade by the US Navy of Iranian waters is a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Iranian Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani said on Thursday. "The imposition of a maritime blockade announced by the United States constit»»»
Amir leaves Muscat
MUSCAT: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani left Muscat, after a fraternal visit to the Sultanate of Oman. At the forefront of those bidding farewell to HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation was HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of O»»»
Glimpses of Bush's Iraq debacle appear in Trump's foray into Iran
In a speech in Riyadh in May 2025, US President Donald Trump appeared to criticise his White House predecessors, including fellow Republican President George W. Bush, for invading Iraq in 2003, bringing down Saddam Hussein’s regime, and trying to rebuild the Iraqi state. Trump’s barb was at “so-cal»»»
Tension, Veiled Threats Mark al-Hayya’s Meeting with US Official in Cairo
Cairo is seeing renewed diplomatic momentum on Gaza, with mediators working to narrow gaps between Hamas and Israel, alongside the United States and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza at the Board of Peace. A meeting in Cairo on Tuesday brought together Hamas chief negotiator Khali»»»
Live Updates: Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to ceasefire as Iran keeps Strait of Hormuz gridlocked – Ya Libnan
Share: Here is the latest on Lebanon and the Iran war today: President Trump said on social media that he spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that they agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, set to begin at 5 p.m. ET Thursday. Israel’s ongoing assault »»»
The 4th Libya Aviation Forum and Expo will be held at the Hayat Tower Lancaster Hotel from 3-4 November
The 4th Libya Aviation Forum & Expo, the premier event bringing together leading aviation professionals and experts from Libya and abroad will be held at the Lancaster Hotel, Hayat Tower from 3-4 November 2026. Organisers Hormuz Tours and Events said that in this edition, they will continue to buil»»»
BBC to cut roughly 10% of workforce amid budget pressures
British state broadcaster the BBC is set to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs – about 10% of its 21,500 workforce. Interim Director General Rhodri Talfan Davies informed employees of the planned downsizing on Wednesday, citing “significant financial pressures... production inflation remains very hig»»»
Floriculture in Tunisia: Wealth of fragrance amid added value and structural challenges
Tunis, April 16 (TAP) - In Tunisia, floriculture, a branch of horticulture focused on the cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants, represents one of the agricultural sectors with high specificity, combining ancestral heritage value and...»»»
Crackdown on celebratory gunfire on Crete
Three men have been arrested on Crete accused of letting off celebratory gunshots in the air, an old but illegal practice on the southern island, police said Thursday. Two of the suspects were arrested Thursday in the Iraklio area for shooting their guns in the air on Easter Saturday night, during »»»
S. Korea tourist arrivals hit record high in Q1, up 23% on-year
South Korea recorded a first-quarter record of 4.76 million foreign tourist arrivals, up 23 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. The figure represents the highest first-quarter total on record, achieved despite geopolitical tensions in the Mid»»»
Amir leaves Muscat
Muscat: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani left Muscat on Thursday, after a fraternal visit to the Sultanate of Oman. At the forefront of those bidding farewell to HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation was HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman. Also, present w»»»
Israeli army to reportedly cease fire in Lebanon this evening
The Israeli army is preparing for a ceasefire in Lebanon expected to begin at 7:00 P.M. local time, Israel's Haaretz newspaper quoted Israeli army officials as saying. High-ranking Israeli army commanders "received instructions to prepare the forces currently deployed in southern Lebanon for the tr»»»
Magyar begins dismantling Orbán’s legacy (four days after the election)
Our weekly series on Hungarian politics continues so we can report on developments after these historic elections and on events around the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: We may know the final election result on Saturday (18 April). Tisza’s victory has re»»»
UAE steps up global financial partnerships in Washington meetings
Dubai: The UAE has held a series of high-level meetings with global finance leaders in Washington, focusing on strengthening financial partnerships, expanding tax frameworks and reinforcing its role in supporting international financial stability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques »»»
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, wife die in murder-suicide - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Virginia Lieutenant Gov.-elect Justin Fairfax arrives to speak at the official Democratic watch party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., in 2017. Fairfax and his wife, Cerina, died by murder-suicide Thursday. File Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Former»»»
Barings opens Abu Dhabi office, deepens Middle East push
Dubai: Barings has opened a new office in Abu Dhabi, expanding its presence in the Gulf as it looks to strengthen ties with institutional investors and capture growing demand for alternative investments in the region. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The move follows th»»»
Russia publishes European address of Ukrainian drone-makers
Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16. “The European public should bo»»»
IEA Chief Says Europe Has 'Maybe 6 Weeks or So' of Jet Fuel Left
Europe has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday in a wide-ranging Associated Press interview, warning of possible flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a»»»
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth faces impeachment articles over Iran war
A US lawmaker has introduced six articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over actions tied to the war on Iran. The resolution, submitted earlier this week by Democratic Representative Yassamin Ansari and backed by eight Democratic co-sponsors and several anti-war groups, outli»»»
Russia publishes European address of Ukrainian drone-makers
Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16. “The European public should bo»»»
New Dubai law: Parents liable for kids’ scooter misuse
Dubai: Parents in Dubai could soon be held legally responsible for their children’s unsafe use of electric scooters, under a new draft law aimed at curbing rising safety risks on the roads. The proposed legislation—prepared by Dubai Police in coordination with key partners including the Roads and T»»»
Dimitrieska-Kochoska attends IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings
Skopje, 14 April 2026 (MIA) – Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, is visiting Washington, D.C., USA from April 14 to 18 to take part in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG). While in Washington D.C., the Ministry of Finance said»»»
Historic CBSE Class 10 results 2026 in UAE as multiple students score perfect 100%
Dubai: The CBSE Class 10 board examination results for 2026 (Phase 1) have delivered a historic moment for Indian schools across the UAE, with multiple students scoring a perfect 100% and almost all institutions recording a 100% pass rate. What makes the results even more extraordinary is the backd»»»
Amir, Sultan of Oman discuss regional developments, de-escalation efforts
Muscat: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, discussed developments in the region amid rising regional tensions. The two sides met at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat, where they exchanged views on current developments, particularl»»»
Op-ed | Marcelo Castellanos (IFC): How sustainable logistics infrastructure can strengthen Romania’s role in European value chains
Industrial and logistics infrastructure is a quiet enabler of modern economies — and a critical foundation for job creation. From manufacturing and e-commerce to export competitiveness, high-quality logistics networks underpin productivity, resilience, and integration into global value chains that »»»
Pakistani army chief in Iran to discuss new round of US talks
The influential chief of Pakistan's armed forces visited Iran to meet the head of Tehran's negotiators on Thursday, as Washington considers agreeing to another round of peace talks in Islamabad. Iranian state television showed Field Marshal Asim Munir meeting Iran's speaker of parliament, Mohammad »»»
Israel army to reportedly cease fire in Lebanon this evening
The Israeli army is preparing for a ceasefire in Lebanon expected to begin at 7:00 P.M. local time, Israel's Haaretz newspaper quoted Israeli army officials as saying. High-ranking Israeli army commanders "received instructions to prepare the forces currently deployed in southern Lebanon for the tr»»»
Amir arrives in Muscat
MUSCAT: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Muscat, capital of the Sultanate of Oman. HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival by HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, along with Deputy Prime M»»»
Vastint Romania secures first tenant for Timpuri Noi Square Phase 2
SCOR, a leading global reinsurer headquartered in Paris, offers its clients a diversified and innovative range of reinsurance and insurance solutions and services to control and manage risk. In 2025, the Group generated premiums of EUR 18.7 billionand serves clients in more than 150 countries throu»»»
Dana Nae Popa (pastel): Clients are looking for clarity, perspective and ideas that can make a real difference
In our recently launched series of interviews dedicated to the MarComm industry, BR sat down with Dana Nae Popa, Owner & Managing Director pastel and President Asociatia pastel and talked about the agency celebrating 20 years, top moments during this time, clients and what they are looking for, tre»»»
Liwa project supports houbara breeding and desert wildlife conservation
In the heart of the Liwa desert, an Emirati-led project is helping protect wildlife and preserve heritage, with a focus on breeding the houbara bustard, a key symbol of the UAE’s desert environment. The project, led by Ahmed Hayay Al Mansoori, began as a personal initiative and has grown into a str»»»
Roxana Memetea (DDB): In a world where everyone can produce quickly, the role of the idea is more important than ever
In a new series of interviews launched today, BR set down with Roxana Memetea, Managing Director DDB, and talked about her wishes for 2026, both for the agency and the advertising industry, clients and what they are looking for, trends and many more. By Romanita Oprea How did you start the year / W»»»